The Study
Reduction in duration of common colds by zinc gluconate lozenges in a double-blind study
This study is like a small test where some people got zinc lozenges and some got fake ones. It found that people who got zinc seemed to get better faster, but we can't be sure the zinc actually caused this because the test was too small and we don't know how people were chosen for each group.
Analysis score
Maximum 90 for a randomized controlled trial.
Where the score came from
Scientists tested zinc lozenges to see if they help colds go away faster.
Where does this study sit?
Reviews of RCTs (Meta-analyses)
Max 100Randomized Trials
Max 90Reviews of Cohort Studies
Max 85Cohort Studies
Max 72Reviews of Case-Control Studies
Max 63Case-Control Studies
Max 58Cross-Sectional & Case Series
Max 50Expert Opinion
Max 546 / 100
Quality score
Participants are randomly assigned to treatment or control groups, minimizing bias. The gold standard for testing whether an intervention causes an effect.
Key takeaways
Summary
Based on the study abstract and findings.
- 1Yes, zinc lozenges may help cold symptoms go away quicker.
- 286 out of 100 people taking zinc felt better in 7 days, compared to 46 out of 100 taking fake pills.
- 3Colds were 7 days shorter with zinc.
Score breakdown, methodology, conflicts of interest, evidence analysis & raw study data
Publication
Journal
Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy
Year
1984
Authors
A. George, Eby, D. R. Davis, W. W. Halcomb
Related Content
Claims (4)
Zinc can stop cold viruses from copying themselves and spreading in lab tests.
Taking zinc gluconate lozenges when you have a cold might help you get better about 7 days faster than if you didn't take them, according to a study.
In studies where people tried zinc gluconate lozenges, most just noticed a bad taste or some mouth irritation, but nothing serious happened.
Taking zinc lozenges every few hours might help people get over a cold faster, with more people feeling better in a week compared to those who don't take them.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making health decisions.